How to get started

Submit your idea!

Phase 1 Deadline: April 3, 2020, 5 p.m.
Phase 2 Deadline: May 4, 2020, 5 p.m.

Get Started

To enter the contest, you will need to create an account. Wisconsin YES user accounts and contest entries are now managed through Reviewr, a trusted third-party SaaS provider engaged by the Tech Council. Select the “MY ACCOUNT” button above to get started. Each entry must be submitted in one of four categories based on the age of the contestant: 9th grade and under, 10th grade, 11th grade or 12th grade. For team entries, the category is decided by the oldest student on the team.

 

At any point during the application process, you can select “Save & Logout” to save your work. You can log back into your account (by clicking the “MY ACCOUNT” in the top navigation bar or on select pages at www.wisconsinyes.com) and edit your Phase 1 entry up until the deadline. After the deadline, all entries will be considered final and you will receive a confirmation email that your entry has been received.

 

Contestants will use the accounts to submit their entries, as well as review judges’ comments and feedback.

 

For information on the contest timeline, eligibility requirements and ownership/confidentiality, please view the “About the Contest” drop-down menu at the top of the screen.

Templates & Sample Entries

Written and developed exclusively or in collaboration with the Wisconsin Technology Council, the templates contained in this section are meant to demystify the expectations and written processes of the contest and aid you in effectively presenting your idea to the contest’s judges.

 

We hope the documents contained in this section are helpful to you as you move through the various phases of the competition.  It is important to note these templates are only samples of what submissions in the various phases of the competition could look like.  They are intended for informational purposes only.  You may choose to follow them closely or not at all; neither option guarantees your success in the competition.

Contest Guidelines

Phase 1: Idea Abstract

Phase 1 of the competition includes an IDEA ABSTRACT of your plan, business or idea. Once you have logged in, you will be able to enter, view and edit your idea abstract.

 

The entry should be roughly 250 words (or no more than 2,000 characters – including spaces). Your idea abstract will be broken down into four sections – Product or service description; customer definition; market description, size and sales strategy; and competition. You are required to write something under every section. Please note that each text box has a limit of 500 characters. You are required to write something under every section.

 

When developing your submission, please be sure to base the business and technology aspects of your plan in reality. Submissions should demonstrate an effort to research the current market and competition, and should approach your sales strategy using the tools and resources available to you within your current community.

 

Entries are judged by section on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the highest. The Top 50 idea abstracts will advance to the next phase of the competition.

 

Click here to view a template and sample* entry.

 

*Sample answers are meant only to serve as an example of what an idea abstract could look like. Replicating the written elements of this sample entry will not necessarily guarantee your success.

Phase 2: Executive Summary

Contestants advancing to Phase 2 of the competition will be asked to write an EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of their business plan. Once you have logged in, you will be able to enter, view and edit your executive summary.

 

The entry should be no more than 1,000 words (or no more than 8,000 characters – including spaces). Your executive summary will be broken down into eight sections – company overview; product or service description; customer definition; market description, size & sales strategy; competition; management team; financials; and capital needs. You are required to write something under every section. Please note that each text box has a limit of 1,000 characters – including spaces.

 

Entries are judged by section on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the highest. The Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the top 20 executive summaries.

 

Click here to view a template and sample* entry.

 

*Sample answers are meant only to serve as an example of what an executive summary could look like.  Replicating the written elements of this sample Executive Summary will not necessarily guarantee your success.

Grand Prize Winner

The Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the top 20 executive summaries. The winner is invited to present his/her/their idea during our annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.